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Sandy impressed with early turnouts at camp

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Duda on competition in spring 0:42

Lucas Duda talks about being healthy in Spring Training and competing with his friend Ike Davis to earn the first base spot

By Anthony DiComo
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MLB.com |

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mets manager Terry Collins typically spends a significant chunk of his offseason in Florida, where he owns a home near the team's Spring Training complex. Captain David Wright always travels down to camp early as well, this year even before the Super Bowl.

The rest of the Mets have fallen in step behind their leaders. General manager Sandy Alderson estimated that more than 60 Mets players and Minor Leaguers showed up to optional workouts this week, days before big league pitchers and catchers are required to report.

"This is quite impressive," Alderson said Thursday, two days before the club's first official report date for pitchers and catchers. "I think we had over 60 guys here yesterday, and it's supposedly voluntary. It needs to be a little organized with the number of people we have here, so the staff has been here as well and it's great."

The Mets also had several players, including outfielder Lucas Duda and shortstop Ruben Tejada, spend large chunks of their offseason at a fitness camp outside Ann Arbor, Mich. Infielder Wilmer Flores and outfielder Juan Lagares are still at the camp, with plans to depart on Friday. They are not required to be in Florida until Feb. 20, when position players must report.

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.